Quake

Quake Screenshots

Quake revolutionized PC gaming with its incredible 3-D graphic engine and Internet capabilities when it arrived a little over a year ago. Finally, this groundbreaking 3-D game is making its 32-Bit debut on the Saturn, a system whose polygonal capabilities have been generally understated.

Quake is about as straightforward a game as they come. It is a first-person, 3-D shooter that has no fancy story, no full-motion video and enemies that have the personality of a tablecloth (although they really are good at killing). In fact, the only goal in Quake is to kill everything in your path to reach the level's exit teleporter called a "Slipgate."

Within each level are plenty of enemies to sate your killing instincts. There are 13 different ones in all including vicious Rottweilers, loser gun-wielding soldiers, lightning-spewing Shamblers. zombies that rip out and throw their own poison flesh as a weapon (Crispin's line is "Give them credit for making do with what they have") and big fat ogres that throw grenades with one hand and hold a chainsaw in the other. There are also a couple of huge end Bosses that can be found at the end of the first and fourth "Episodes" (groupings of approximately six levels each).

The arsenal in Quake is comprised of eight different weapons tailored to achieve the same result in many different ways. For close range encounters, the weapon of choice is an axe or a shotgun. When there's some space between you and your target, the Rocket Launcher does wonders. The Grenade Launcher is handy for rolling little explosive bundles of joy down stairwells and through windows. Also in the repertoire are a Nail Gun. a Perforator (a bigger Nail Gun) and the Thunderbolt, a gun that discharges lightning bursts. Several defensive items can be found throughout the levels such as different grades of armor, an item that makes you invisible [only a pair of 3-D eyeballs are visible to others) and runes that enhance your soldier's abilities.

There's a bit more to the game than just mindlessly shooting enemies (although, yes. that's most of it). In addition to avoiding being killed by the game's vast cast of creatures, there are plenty of traps to avoid and push-button puzzles (push button to open door at other side of level, etc) that must be solved and navigated to reach the exit.

So what are the levels like? Well the 3-D, complex architecture is probably unlike anything seen on a console. The Quake 3-D engine allows jumping, looking up and down and allows for play in a fully 3-D environment. There is water (you can swim above or under it), multiple level rooms, moving platforms and a variety of object textures and light-sourcing that make the world come to life. Several motifs make up the levels in Quake. The beginning of the game takes place in the "Slipgate Complex." which is comprised of a bright, high-tech, metallic building complete with killer dogs and soldiers. Other levels are more foreboding and dark to the point where you can barely see creatures close enough to kiss you (although that surely won't be their intent).

While Internet play was Quake'! biggest claim to fame on the PC. it will be interesting to see how console players embrace its console counterpart. Regardless, it appears that Quake is on track to be an outstanding translation, at least as a single-player game.

Quake for the Saturn is a remarkable re-creation of the computer game, even in spite of its flaws. The game moves at a reasonable frame rate and Quake's 3-D graphics and gloomy mood are intact--for the most part. The enemies' animation is occasionally choppy, and sometimes they blend in too well with the backgrounds when they are far away. Some improvements help make up for its deficiencies, such as new light sourcing on firing weapons and explosions not in the original. There are two major problems with this game that severely mar the excellent game engine. The first is the lack of multiplayer support. Quake is not a great one-player game-it gained its notoriety on the Net as a multiplayer. The Saturn version of Quake doesn't even have NetLink support, which is criminal, given Quake's Internet roots. Also, the control is difficult to manage, even when using the analog controller. Without being able to look around quickly (done with a mouse on the PC), it is hard to pick off enemies above or below you (very essential). They did the best they could, but the grim reality is that current console controllers just don't work well with Quake. It's too bad that this game doesn't have multiplayer support. Without that and solid control, this great-looking Saturn version of Quake, isn't nearly as good as the original.

8.0

Powerslave and now Quake prove the guys at Lobotomy really know their stuff when it comes to first-person games. Their Saturn port of Id's Quake is amazing, with lighting effects that make it more impressive than the nonaccelerated PC version. Everything's intact--including the lethal level design and Nine Inch Nails jams. Too bad there's no Deathmatch Mode, which would have launched the game's replay value through the roof.

6.0

I've long awaited this game, mainly for jts multiplayer aspects on the PC versions. Unfortunately, that's the one feature Quake doesn't have on the Saturn, and that cripples it for me. I hate the texture maps, but love the realistic lighting effects that go beyond anything the Saturn has ever done. I also find the weapon choices and sound less exciting than irv all other titles of this overcrowded genre. Without multiplayer, I'd pass.

5.5

Quakejnaybe one of the best-looking and best-sounding first-person shooters on the Saturn. At the same time, it's also one of the dullest. Compared to a game like Duke, Quake has drab level designs and boring weapons. You can keep playing and keep playing, and you'll find nothing innovative with this game. This makes me wonder why Sega skipped making Quake Net Linkable-it certainly would've made this a better buy.